Welp! I'm trying a different POV for this chapter, and the next. I needed to get a different setting for the whole thing and tone I'm trying to set. Big things are coming, and Jim's getting a headache.
I want to give a shout out to GhostWriterGirl-1, DUDE, you always freaking make my week with your reviews!
Down to business, I don't own Trollhunters, ENJOY!
Chapter 26: An assembly, you DON'T want to skip.
The students of Corbin City High were confused, to say the least. Anyone already in a classroom was ushered to the auditorium, and anyone just arriving at the school was immediately directed there. Whispers of theory went in waves through the room, and suddenly blew up when the mysterious Jim Lake walked on stage. Detective Skinner, Principal Sands, Maggie, and Claire trailing behind.
There were strange rumors surrounding Jim and Claire, but more around Jim.
Ever since he arrived in town, even before school started. The first thing with Dr. Cross, his odd behavior toward teachers, obvious anger issues, he was a mystery. The kid seemed to be overprotective of his girlfriend. At one point kids in his chem class shared that he had a violent culture, but the most odd thing the students wondered about was his vocalizations and supposed monster hunting.
Everyone had heard Justin's stories about the boy, and everyone was all too eager to believe them. Even if it was just for the hype, because nothing ever happened in Corbin.
On the first day, Jim himself confirmed in his first period class that he was, in fact, a monster hunter. Stating that the 'Jersey Devil' that everyone was seeing, was actually something called a Stalkling.
From there, he only got weirder… and cooler.
Jim was probably the coolest, yet most low key kid in all of Corbin. Excluding Daunelle.
Though some of the rumors were odd and some downright creepy.
Now, three months into school, he's up on the stage with the principal, the only semblance of law enforcement Corbin had; And two of the prettiest girls in school. Carrying some cage covered in a jacket.
With a single motion, all the noise died down and the room was more silent than it was when empty. Jim gave an unsure look back to Claire, who gave him a reassuring nod.
After a breath, he began.
"You all know me. I'd be surprised if you didn't, what with all the rumors you spread about me."
Several gasps were heard in the room, though Jim stood still as a statue.
"Yeah, I know what you say about me," Jim said calmly with a smile. "None of those things are true, so get it out of your head.
"Let me tell you a quick story," he said.
He took a breath, and what was meer seconds felt like years for the students. On the edge of their seats and hanging on to his every word.
"Claire and I moved here after my home in Arcadia was destroyed. And before you ask, it was because of a creature that according to science, and anyone sane. Does not exist.
"Specifically, it's my job to make sure humans don't find out about these creatures, or any other creature that, 'do not exist'."
Jim gained a far away look in his eyes that somehow took the students with him. Sentimental and pained.
"It's my job to keep the worlds of magic and human seperate, and to protect everyone from both worlds. Without letting the humans find out the other exists."
Another pause, another breath.
"I wasn't able to do it in Arcadia, and I can't do it here. I can't keep it a secret and keep you all safe."
A few students tried to whisper to one another, but their friends shut them down, quickly. Not wanting to miss a second of what he had to say.
Jim opened his mouth to say something, when a short brunette boy stood and shouted. "Is this about the green goop in the halls that smells like shit?"
"Mr. Spencer watch your language!" Mr. Sands shouted back.
Jim gave a pleasant chuckle. "Yeah Mcray, it is," he said. Pushing the principal back to his corner.
"So what is it?" Another student yelled.
The strange new kid looked around at the student body, contemplating, and concentrating hard. "First I gotta know. You guys can keep a secret, right? Because this can't get further than here. Like I said, it's my job. And I've risked my life to keep my worlds apart."
Again, the still silence stretched time like taffy. When finally a single student stood, their hand in the air.
"I'll keep the secret," it was Ashley. Two more students, Brandon and Lisa, did the same after they saw their sister stand.
Then Justin, Liv, Daunelle, Lium, Sophe, Mcray, one after another. Till the whole student body was standing. The teachers making eye contact one by one with Jim, giving him their trust.
With a firm nod, and the motion to sit, Jim began.
Walking over to the covered cage, he removed the jacket. Something green with angry yellow eyes was snarling and clawing at it's makeshift milk crate cage. A shallow wave of screams flowed through the auditorium.
"This is a goblin, tricksters, petty vandals, scavengers, and when their numbers are big enough, a violent predator. And a force to be reckoned with. The 'green goop' in the halls is the aftermath of several hordes attacking the school last night, and Claire, Maggie, and I killing them, so they didn't eat the student who was working extra late on a project.
"Yes, I said eat. When more than 20 hordes of goblins get together, they need more food than just trash and rodents to survive, so they turn to eating humans. Normally, I wouldn't expose these things over just 20 hordes, but with the number they've grown to in the past monthish, there are probably over a hundred hordes. And I can't risk anyone else getting attacked by more goblins."
"Is that the thing that attacked Liv?" Sophie shouted.
Jim nodded. "It is."
"So what's the point in telling us?" Amanda asked cynically.
The troll in disguise eye's twitched, taking a breath, he closed his eyes and bit down a snarl. "I only have one scout," he finally said. "And I'm tired of him risking himself for… everyone else. That doesn't mean I want you guys out and about looking for these guys either, I just need more sets of eyes. For you to be more careful at night, more cautious."
Claire came next to her boyfriend, resting her hand on his shoulder she spoke. "Jim and I have been 'fighting monsters' as you put it for a long time. Bad things can happen to people who aren't aware of these creatures."
"I've seen it," Maggie said.
"Me too," the Detective added.
The assembly ended quietly, Jim and 'his team' explained what to do if they ran into any goblins, or anything that didn't qualify as normal.
But the students of CCH left the auditorium with more questions then when they had answers, and enough puzzle pieces to start putting things together.
Dun dun dunnnn...